The National tribune., 1887-12-15
PICKET SHOTS.
From Alert Comrades All Along the
Line.
Personal.

B. F. Babb, Co. C, 116.h Ind, and Sergeant.
Co. c, 15ith Ind, Elliott, Iowa, begins letter
by sending two new subscribers, and then
wants 10 know what has become of all the
" months persimmon knockers " that cross
ed the Cumberland Mountains in 1863 and
spent the Winter near Greenville. Tenn. He
would like 10 hear also from the I5ith boys.
John Schweizer, Corporal, Co. +, Doth Pa,
says he is old and poor, and the bullet is still in
his groin where he was shot at Charlottesville.
During the war he loaned $40 or SIS to q CON-
rade who wanted to go home on furlough, and
who has never repaid it. The money would be
Godsend to him now il the comrade will send it.
Samuel Kennon, Co. L, 30th U. S. G. T., Fed
eralsburg, Nd, says his regiment was on the
right flank Of his division, under Burnside, at
the time OF the terrible explosion at Peters
burg, where the Colonel and the Captain of his
company were badly shot, but not killed. He
would like to hear from his old comrades.
Caleb Graham, Haynes's Station, Ark, sends
a subscriber. and devotes much of his letter to
asking blessings upon Mrs. John A. Logan for
her recent letter published in THE NATIONAL
TRIBUNE.
c. b. Barton, Color Sergeant, 3ith Y. Y,
Cory, Pa. writes gossipy letter about his old
regiment, and especially devotes considerable
space 10 n description of the operations at Ed
wards Ferry in October, 1861. He has not
heard for long time from any of bis comrades
and would like to do so.
II. S. Lines, 1st Ohio Cav, Washington
Courthouse, o., complains that the story
Flashing Sabers," by "Col. Ayers Bugler,"
does great injustice 10 Co. A, 1st Ohio Cav, so
far as il relates to the night charge at Monte
rey, Nd, July 4, 1868, after Gettysburg. The
article will DO replied to as soon as the COM
rades Of the company can compare notes and
arrange the matter.
Matt Dorman, Co. G., 2sth Iowa, Winona,
| Kan, thinks il is about time he heard from his
comrades, if any of them are alive. He could
tell some good war stories If he had a chance.
| He was with Grant until Vicksburg. and then
with the Nineteenth Corps at Red River and
under Sheridan.
Ralph c. Bowles, Sergeant, Co. G., sth Mo.
Cav, Roscoe, No., sends pathetic story of
veteran, % years old, who served in Co. G., 1st
Mo-, during the war in a number Of battles,
and is now residing in the poorhouse at Osce-
ola, Mo. The sufferers name is Elias J. Short,
and at the outbreak of the war he was an in
dustrious and well-to-do farmer in Missouri,
who was forced to leave his home on account OF
his Union sentiments, aud enlisted in the Fed
eral service, where he served throughout the
war lie is now partially blind.
Joe Lucas, Co. G, 18th Iowa, Cherokee, Kan,
was at the Salkahatchie fight himself and says
Comrade Ball is not quite correct. The troops
that waded the wide swamps at Salkahatchie
were the 1lth, 18th, 18th and 10th Iowa and
the 32d Wis, comprising the brigade under
Gen. William w. Belknap, who led them, and
these were the troops that reached the fort that
opposed the crossing.
Wm. Edwards, Co. c, 4th w. Va, Williams
town, VIVA, lost an arm during the war at
Suckers Gap, Va, and feels like losing the
other for the same cause when he hears Of such
talk as the recent speeches at Macon, Ga, and
that of Gen. Gordon in Ohio.
| III. G.. Millman, CO. III, 9th Iowa Cav, George
town, Colo, writes that he was captured on
McCook's raid near Big Shanty. Hearing that
Capt. Wirz was countryman Of his, he made
his acquaintance when out after wood, think
ing that he might get q favor from him. Wirz
asked him to enlist in the Confederate service,
stating that it was the just cause. Comrade
Millman told him that he would see him in
the middle of much hotter place than Georgia
first. He is earnestly in favor Of the pension
bill adopted by the National Association Of
Union Ex-Prisoners of War.
VIM. Bush, ST., Troop +, Sth Mo. 6. NJ. Cav,
Calhoun, No, is So years of age, and was so
badly wounded during his three years of serv-
ice that he is unable to work. He has been an
applicant for ~ years lor pension, but hasn't
got il yet.
b. &. Chapman. 146th n. Y, and Sergeant
Co. K, 9th " r. C., Clayyille, n. Y, writes o
his experiences at Johnson's Island, Sandusky
Bay, o., in guarding prisoners there. He dene:
that any prisoners escaped OH the ice, but says
that when the prisoners broke out of the stock
ade with rude ladders they had made, all were
recaptured but one man, who was shot dead by
a sentry. He tells of escorting a large detach
mcnt Of prisoners TO City Point in March, 1866
for exchange and says that part Of the same
detachment were prisoners and back again a
; Johnson's Island before Lees surrender.
Wm. Thompson, Co. L, Goth Mass, Pacific
: Mo-, was taken prisoner at Balls Bluff Oct. 22
1861, and sent TO Richmond. and thence L
Salisbury, where he remained until June, 1862
Among his fellow. prisoners were David John
son, Sergt George BrittOn and man named
Rizin. lie has never seen or heard of any o.
r these since his release from prison, and would
a like TO know if they are still living.
Capt. John Bishop, Co. G., 4th Tenn. Cav.
/ Leiore, Indian Ter, sends sketch of Gen
! Frank J. Heron. Gen. Heron entered tn,
service in 1861, and was Captain in the Is
q Iowa; was wounded and taken prisoner at tn,
r battle of Wilson's Creek, Aug. 10, 1861; ex
{ changed and promoted TO Leutenant-C COlone
E of the Sth Iowa, and again wounded and taker
q prisoner at Pea Ridge. March Z, 1862. On hi
), release he was promoted 10 Brigadier-General
and assigned 10 command a division in tn,
Army of the Frontier. In 1868 he relieved
Gen. SchOfeld in the command of the Depart
ment of Missouri, aud was himself relieved by
I Gen. Curtis, and he then returned TO the com
mand of his old division, which was ordered L
s Nicksburg. Later lie was Member Of Con
= gress, and settling in Louisiana, was Unite'
s States Marshal of that State.
i Walter l.. Patterson, Short Beach, BranfOrd
8 Conn, says he obtained all the testimony whcl
I secured him his pension through THE NATION
l. AL TRIBUNE.
d Allen Il. Bird. Junior Vice Commander De
a partInent of California, Phenix. Ariz., find
IA fault with The NATIoSAL TRIBUNE in a re
cent number for ascribing his residence 4
u Montana. 1t is too cold up there for him.
n Park K. Smith, Bidford, Iowa, was prisone
: for l3 months at Andersonyille, weighing l6
J. pounds when captured aud only 80 when ex
!, changed. He would like TO have correspond
{, ence with some Of the men of Co. A, 81 w. Va
!" and especially Capt. Conger or Lieut.. CongeI
h who were both officers in Co. A.
J. VIM. ). White Co. A, 9th ILL.,, Eaglesville
IS Tex, writes to say that he did not take Mis-
J. sion Ridge, nor did he help recapture DE Gress
It battery, but he has the very best reasons 70
{, claiming that he fired the first shot at the bat
IS tie of April 6, 1862
Is l.. N. Calvert, Co. +, 10th Ohio, Tranquility
$, o., says The NATIONAL TRIBUNE makes hr
n feel more loyal every time he gets it. III
10 would like to hear from some Of the old com
IT rades of his company.
IS John s. Strain, 4th and 18th Iowa, Knoxville
n Neb, was severely wounded at Pea Ridge, Ark
10 and discharged from the 4th Iowa for hi
d wounds in 1852. He re-enlisted into the 15t
d Iowa in January 1861 and was with Sherma
,r from Johnstons surrender to the end of tn
Ie war. he is informed that Gen. George Pomutl
1t the last regimental commander of the 10th